Chintamani Rao takes charge at Times Global Broadcasting as CEO

Times Global Broadcasting Company Ltd has got new leadership in place with Chintamani Rao taking charge as CEO. Rao replaces Sunil Lulla, who had been associated with the company since its inception in 2005 – around the same time when Rao had left the advertising industry to join India TV as CEO. As is known, after a three-year stint, Lulla is headed to Alva Brothers-Turner as Director, and would also assume the additional responsibility of CEO for the Alva-Turner group companies, beginning March 2008.

Rao, too, moves on from India TV after a three-year stint and his first day at Times Global Broadcasting Company Ltd was February 15, 2008. When questioned on the new role, Rao replied that he was already looking forward to the task ahead. He said, “Times Global Broadcasting presented an opportunity to do something further in the news space and that attracted me here.”

“Times Now is a leading English news channel, and in that sense, the challenges of a market leader are different. I am looking forward to handling that. The company’s intention to launch an English business news channel has been announced, and that clearly is another area that would be interesting to work at,” added Rao.

Prior to taking on the role at India TV, Rao has 30 years of experience in the advertising industry, where he was associated with Universal McCann, and was responsible for all the non-advertising businesses of the group, including Result McCann (direct marketing and event management). In his advertising career, he has also been associated with other agencies such as O&M and Lintas, and has done stints in India and abroad.